Two weeks after our wedding in May of 1978 we were in the kitchen at Pioneer Pacific Camp and here we are again in the spring of 2013 excitedly preparing to spend a summer at this beautiful camp on Thetis Island. We will be joining the summer staff team July and August, Michael as Head Cook.

We are subletting our home on Quadra Island to a couple who will be here from mid-May to the first week in October thus enabling us to be at this Inter-Varsity Camp.

“There is no greater thing in life than the hope offered to us by Jesus Christ. Inter-Varsity’s Pioneer Camp exists for one key purpose: to help young people develop a deep relationship with Him that will last for a lifetime.

Our firm belief is that faith in Christ and an understanding of God’s call to love and serve others is pivotal for the future of our young people. At Pioneer Pacific, they are having an experience in the context of a Christian, faith-driven community where they are becoming lifelong leaders with a passion for following the example that they are reading about in Scripture study and seeing lived out through Christian relationships.” This is what Pioneer is about!

“My peace I give you, not as the world gives” (John 14:27) This is our hope for all our friends this Christmas season. That you may have the peace that the angels spoke of on the night that the Messiah was born. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14

Michael and I have experienced this peace, (not as the world gives) in the past year as once again we found ourselves heading in a new direction without home or job. And as before He has provided beyond all that we could ask or think with a lovely home, financial provision and many wonderful supportive friends as we continue to reside on Quadra Island. The peace of God which transcends all understanding (Phillipians4:7) has been our comfort and strength for He himself is our peace.(Ephesians2:14) So friends :May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

(They follow the sun (Son) and are full of seeds which is the word of God (Luke 8:11)

“But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun’s rays. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.” Malachi 4:2

When I shared this with some friends they told me how they had observed a whole field of sunflowers their faces towards the sun. When the sun moved the flowers moved! We have been going through a very challenging refiners fire and I just hold onto those words from a song: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

I’ve just been sending out newsletters which began with: “We are feeding groups of quilters now… It is also the season that I feel like cuddling up under a quilt in a sofa by the fire.” The quilters have gone and N.I.D.E.S (North Island Distance Education School)are now enjoying Michael and David’s cooking. I was puttering around the house, keeping the fire going, creating artwork, catching up on books, composing letters, and getting our bank accounts balanced (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) and feeling a little house bound. I noticed on the students schedule “Hike to the Homewood Bluff”. Now in all the years we have been here (4.5) I have never hiked to the bluff. Whenever it was announced as an activity to other groups, it was described as a short, easy hike that young and old could easily do. Feeling encouraged by our canoe outing a few days before I volunteered to go along.

It was raining when we set out following three young Homewood staff. I had no idea how to get to the bluff so was delighted to see we were taking some of my familiar walking routes. The pace was a little faster than I was used to though, and soon found myself huffing and puffing along side my fellow, but much younger hikers. I kept reminding myself that this was an easy hike. We turned off my familiar route into a wooded but ascending trail. I breathed in the fresh, damp air and enjoyed the engaging banter around me. The path was strewn with colourful leaves, roots and soft earth. We trudged along in a single file our clothes getting wetter as the rain filtered through the trees. After about twenty minutes of brisk walking we came to the base of a huge rocky, slippery moss and lichen covered cliff. I began to wonder if I hadn’t overestimated my readiness to do this. I could feel (or perhaps I imagined it as they were quite a good natured group) some impatience on the part of those following me as I cautiously, climbed, crawled up the steep path set before me. Rocks and roots made a set of stairs in some places, but other parts were little walls of rock which I nervously crawled up. Teens were leaping and running around me amidst the cries of our young guides to be careful because it was slippery.

I surged on and finally made it to the top. I could imagine that on a drier, clearer day the view would have been magnificent. To me it was a beautiful site, I could rest! Through the trees and mist, the soft shapes of the islands in Gowlland Harbour looked wonderful. After a time of picture taking and quiet chatter we headed back. I found this a little scarier than coming up. Because of illness and age I had lost a little of my sense of balance. Michael wasn’t there to hold on to as I usually did in our walks together and I didn’t feel that any of my fellow hikers would appreciate it if I did so with them. It’s amazing how when in a daunting situation we cry out to God and He comes to us with peace and strength. So I made my way home and had to laugh at myself when I started to huff and puff as I climbed the stairs to our home. At dinner that night I felt that I deserved to have a piece of the banana chocolate cake with cream cheese and strawberries on top that David made. It probably replaced all the calories that I burned on the hike, but it certainly tasted good!

Triumphantly, I can say that it is a short, easy walk with a few challenging places near the end and I’ll gladly do it again!

Most of our time has been consumed with making this movie. One of our jobs here at Homewood is to raise our own financial support. We have been feeling the pinch lately (financially and physically). Yet God is good and faithful and He has never given us less than what He knows we need. Michael is gearing up for larger groups to feed and April is adjusting to her new role and trying to put into reality: “Pleasant words are healing to the bones” Proverbs.

I would like to do some exploring of the word good tonight. The meaning of good is: fitting or well put together, producing favourable results, well and completely performed and satisfying. Now lets look at some examples of its usage.

My speech is over and the evaluation thanks me for a good speech and sits down. What was implied in that comment?

You’ve just finished Sunday dinner and are excusing yourself from the table, “Thank you dear for a very good dinner.” Whats taken place to deserve that compliment?

God created the earth and all things upon it. He finished each days work by stating it was good and when he formed man – stated it was very good. Why did He say this?

Lets first take a look at my speech. An enthusiastic beginning, compelling body and a romantic ending. Eye contact made with everyone along with vocal variety and forceful body language. Dress has been appropriate and positive relaxed. These ingredients matched with and interesting subject make that a good speech.

Now the Sunday dinner. It’s three o’clock, the roast of pork has been in the oven for an hour and it’s aroma permeates the air. You can already taste its succulent flavour and your mouth begins to water. The aroma of fresh baked bread and oven warm spice cake join that of the roast. The table is set with the best china and silver ware and a bright bouquet shines as the center piece.

“Dinner’s ready” comes the long awaited call. There sits the roast ready to be carved, apple sauce close by it. Tender slices are passed to take their place on each plate along with fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy, bright garden salad and golden corn. Warm buns lovingly spread with soft butter and the feast begins. Seconds for some and the finishing touch: moist spice cake a-la-mode and coffee brewed just right. Could any of you leave the table after this without letting those responsible know it was indeed a good dinner?

Now lets finish by looking at our beginning. “And God made man in His own image in the image of God He created him. Male and female He created them. God saw all he had made and it was very good.” (Genesis) Originally well put together and fitting. We are excellent in kind. Having qualities useful and necessary for our purpose we are to have dominion over all the earth and be fruitful and multiply. We are each unique not one of us being the same and are the most complex of creations in the universe. Created in God’s image and not that of a monkey. We’ve all enjoyed making and hearing good speeches and partaking in good dinners. Let our thanks go to God who saw it was good to make us this way.

I leave you with this quote from the book of James. “Every good gift and every perfect present comes from God above, who brought us in to being by His word.”